Translation of gesture responses in a virtual world

ABSTRACT

Translating gestures made by one avatar to a second avatar in a virtual world by receiving an input from a first user representing an input gesture to be made by the first avatar to the second avatar. The input gesture is translated to generate at least one translated gesture for display. The translated gesture may be output for display as being made by the first avatar to the second avatar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to simulations, virtual world simulations of thereal-world or real-life or a virtual world and the like, and moreparticularly to a system and method for translating gestures transmittedbetween users to conform to any cultural or selected characteristicsassociated with the users receiving the gestures in a virtual world.

Computer based simulations are becoming more ubiquitous. Simulations maybe used for training purposes, for entertainment or for other purposes.Computer simulations such as Second Life™ or similar simulations presenta virtual world which allows users or players to be represented bycharacters known as avatars. Second Life is a trademark of LindenResearch, Inc. in the United States, other countries or both. SecondLife is an Internet-based virtual world launched in 2003 by LindenResearch, Inc. A downloadable client program called the Second LifeViewer enables users, called “Residents”, to interact with others in thevirtual world through motional avatars. The virtual world basicallysimulates the real world or environment. The users or residents viatheir avatar can explore the virtual world, meet other users orresidents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities,create and trade items (virtual property) and services from one another.

Virtual worlds are filled with users from many different geographiclocations, different cultures, and different ethnic groups. Further,virtual worlds provide many different environments for users tointeract. The diversity in users raises communications issues. A gesturepresented one way in one culture may not be understood or worse, couldbe offensive to a user of another culture. Further, courtesy cantypically be shown by altering the gesture to fit the culture of theuser with whom you are interacting. Additionally, gestures may bedifferent for different environments. For example, in a businessenvironment a “hello” coupled with a handshake may be an appropriategesture, whereas in a more casual environment, a “hello” coupled with asimple nod will suffice.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method for translatinggestures in a virtual world may comprise receiving an input from a firstuser representing an input gesture to be made by a first avatar to asecond avatar in the virtual world. The method may also includetranslating the input gesture input by the first user to generate atleast one translated gesture for display.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method fortranslating gestures in a virtual world may comprise receiving an inputfrom a first user representing an input gesture to be made by a firstavatar to a second avatar. The method may further comprise translatingthe input gesture to generate at least one translated gesture based on aset of translation gestures defined for use when communicating with thesecond avatar.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method fortranslating gestures in a virtual world may comprise receiving an inputfrom a first user representing an input gesture to be made by a firstavatar to a second avatar in the virtual world. The method may furthercomprise translating the input gesture input by the first user togenerate at least one translated gesture. The method may yetadditionally comprise outputting for display a depiction of the gestureinput by the first user as being made by the first avatar to the secondavatar and outputting for display the translated gesture as being madeby the first avatar to the second avatar.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention a computer programproduct for translating gestures in a virtual world comprises a computerreadable medium having computer readable program code embodied. Thecomputer readable medium may comprise computer readable program codeconfigured to receive an input gesture to be made by a first avatardirected to a second avatar in the virtual world and computer readableprogram code configured to translate the input gesture to generate atleast one translated gesture for display.

Other aspects and features of the invention, as defined solely by theclaims, will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art uponreview of the following non-limited detailed description of theinvention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of an example of a system fortranslation of gestures in a virtual world in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an example of a method for translation ofprofiled gestures in a virtual world where the gesture is sent from afirst avatar to a designate second avatar in accordance with anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an example of a method for translation ofprofiled gestures in a virtual world where the gesture is sent from afirst avatar to any second avatars located within a proximity of thefirst avatar in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example of a method for translation ofprofiled gestures in a virtual world where the gesture is sent from afirst avatar to a second avatar within a given environment where thegesture is translated based on the environment in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of embodiments refers to theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of theinvention. Other embodiments having different structures and operationsdo not depart from the scope of the invention.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the invention may beembodied as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly,the invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software,micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardwareaspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,”“module” or “system.” Furthermore, the invention may take the form of acomputer program product on a computer-usable storage medium havingcomputer-usable program code embodied in the medium.

Any suitable computer usable or computer readable medium may beutilized. The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, forexample but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device,or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) ofthe computer-readable medium would include the following: an electricalconnection having one or more wires, a tangible medium such as aportable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-onlymemory (CD-ROM), or other tangible optical or magnetic storage device;or transmission media such as those supporting the Internet or anintranet. Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable mediumcould even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program isprinted, as the program can be electronically captured, via, forinstance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled,interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary,and then stored in a computer memory. In the context of this document, acomputer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that cancontain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for useby or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice. The computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signalwith the computer-usable program code embodied therewith, either inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. The computer usable program codemay be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but notlimited to the Internet, wireline, optical fiber cable, radio frequency(RF) or other means.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the invention maybe written in an object oriented programming language such as Java,Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the computer program code forcarrying out operations of the invention may also be written inconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages, or in functionalprogramming languages, such as Haskell, Standard Meta Language (SML) orsimilar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely onthe user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or theconnection may be made to an external computer (for example, through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider).

Aspects of the invention are described below with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) andcomputer program products according to embodiments of the invention. Itwill be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/orblock diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These computer program instructions may beprovided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purposecomputer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce amachine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor ofthe computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, createmeans for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchartand/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

Aspects of the invention provide systems, methods, and computer programproducts for translation of gestures sent between user avatars in avirtual world. Specifically, aspects of the invention may involvereceipt of a gesture from a first avatar. Some aspects, if needed,translate the gesture to an appropriate gesture for communication to asecond avatar. Depending on the embodiment, the gesture is translated tocomport with proper cultural, environmental, etc. settings. It may alsobe translated based on the identity of the avatar sending the gesture.Certain aspects of the invention translate gestures so as to moreclosely resemble appropriate customs and standards of each avatar.

For example, if a first avatar is European and a second avatar isJapanese, a gesture from the European representing a hand shake could betranslated to a bow for the second avatar. The gesture input by thefirst user (shaking hands) is output for display to depict the first andsecond avatars shaking hands, while the translated gesture is output fordisplay to depict the first and second avatars bowing to each other in aculturally appropriate manner.

As another example, translations of a gesture may be tailored based on agiven environment in which the gesture is sent. A different translatedgesture could be used based on whether the environment is formal, suchas the work place, or informal, such as a social event.

As another example, translation of a gesture may be dependent on theavatar sending the gesture. The translated gesture may be different ifthe avatar is a friend, as opposed to a mere acquaintance.

FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram depicting a general embodiment of anenvironment 10 in which aspects of the invention may be implementedaccording to at least one embodiment. As illustrated, a plurality ofusers 12-16 may be connected to a network 20, such as the Internet, LAN,WAN, etc. The users 12-16 interact with a virtual world system 18. Inparticular, the virtual world system 18 operates one or more virtualworlds in which users 12-16 may create one or more virtualpersonalities, sometimes referred to as avatars. The users, via theirrespective computers 21, are capable of controlling their avatars tocommunicate with each other in various virtual scenarios. In general,users provide commands to the virtual world system 18 dictating variousenvironments and situations to place their associated avatar(s) in andto control the actions and movements of the avatar. The virtual worldsystem 18 receives these inputs and generates various graphic userinterfaces (GUIs) to be displayed on each user's computer. Where usersinteract with each other in the virtual world, the virtual world system18 displays scenes from the users' interactions on both users'computers.

As illustrated, the virtual world system 18 is typically implemented asa server/processor 22 accessible via the network 20. This however, couldinclude peer-to-peer type network configurations without a central host.(FIG. 1 depicts only one possible embodiment for configuration of thevirtual world system.) The server/processor 22 operates using varioussoftware modules 29 stored in a file system 24 to create and operate thevirtual world. The virtual world system 18 also includes data stored inthe file system 24 typically in a database 26.

In one embodiment, the database 26 of the virtual world system 18comprises data records 28 for each user and each avatar for each user,if the user has more than one avatar. While various pieces ofinformation may be stored for each user and each user's avatar, forpurposes of this invention, at least data are stored for each userregarding any cultural, ethnic, and/or social information associatedwith each avatar of the user that would dictate translation of gesturessent to the avatar.

The system 18 may further include a translation module 30 fortranslation of profiled gesture responses in a virtual world. In someembodiments, the system 18 further includes a proximity module 32 usedto determine the proximity of avatars relative to each other in thevirtual world.

Associated with the translation module 30 is a list of various gesturesthat may be transmitted by avatars in the virtual world. For each givengesture, there is stored one or more translation gestures thatcorrespond to the given gesture, but are based on particularenvironmental, cultural, ethnicity, etc. factors or factors associatedwith the avatar sending the gesture. The gestures and their associatedtranslations may be implemented in many different ways.

In some embodiments, the gestures and associated translations are storedin the database 26 accessible by the translation module 30. In thisembodiment, the gestures and translations may be stored in a simple fileor may be stored in a relational database. In some embodiments, thegestures and translations are in the form of a rules engine embedded inthe translation module 30.

In some embodiments, the gestures and associated translations are in ageneral database that is common to all avatars. In other embodiments,the gestures and translations may be stored for each user and each useravatar. In these embodiments, the gestures and translations may becustomized for each avatar, such that a user may define how a gesturereceived by the avatar is to be translated prior to display to the user.

Regardless of where and how the gestures and associated translations arestored, it is understood that the translated gestures may be defined inany number of ways and with any desired level of granularity. Forexample, several different translations may be stored for a givengesture. There could be different translations for the same gesturebased on a social setting, such that a received gesture from a thirdparty avatar is translated for the user based on a social situation inwhich the gesture was made, such as formal, e.g. business/work, orinformal). Where the translations are user defined, differenttranslations may be designated for different third party avatars. Forexample, translation of a gesture from a mere acquaintance may bedifferent than translation of the gesture received from a friend.

As an example, an avatar that is based on Japanese cultural norms mayhave associated with it more than one translation of handshake gesturefrom a third party avatar. For non-designated third party avatars,(e.g., those in which a more formal interaction is presumed), thetranslation may be a formal bow. However, for certain designated thirdparty avatars, such as friends or acquaintances, the handshake gesturemay be translated as a nod or not translated at all and displayed as ahand shake.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an example of a method for translation ofgestures from one avatar to one or more second avatars in a virtualworld in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. This embodimentillustrates a situation where a first user directs a gesture from afirst avatar to a second avatar. Further, in this embodiment, theinvention uses a central database of translation gestures and determineswhich translation gesture to use based on a criterion of the secondavatar, such as the avatar's defined cultural, ethnicity, or othersocial/cultural characteristics.

In this embodiment, a first user 12 directs an associated first avatarto communicate a gesture to a second avatar associated with a seconduser 14. (The second avatar could be associated with the first user, asopposed to another user.). The gesture is received by theserver/processor 22 of the virtual world system 18. (See block 100). Agesture may include any visual, textual or oral communication or gesturein a virtual world that an avatar may perform or which may be performedfor an avatar. Examples of a gesture may include, but are not limitedto, extending a hand, bowing, saying “hello”, waving, winking, writingout “hello”, etc.

In this particular embodiment, the first user defines the avatar towhich the gesture is directed, i.e., the second avatar. As such, theserver/processor 22 also detects the indication that the gesture isdirected to the second avatar. (See block 102). The user may direct thegesture in several different ways. For example, in some embodiments, theuser may direct the gesture to a plurality of other avatars bydesignating the avatars in the command. In other embodiments, to bediscussed later, the user may direct the gesture to all avatars within acertain proximity of the user's avatar by specifying a desired distanceor multi-dimensional environment.

The server/processor 22 next accesses information associated with thesecond avatar defining any cultural, ethnicity, or other social/culturalcharacteristics of the avatar. (See block 104). Further, theserver/processor 22 provides the gesture and the information regardingthe second avatar to the translation module 30. Using the list ofvarious gestures and associated translations 34, the translation module30 determines an appropriate translation gesture to be sent to thesecond avatar based on the gesture received from the first user and theinformation regarding the second avatar. (See block 106).

The server/processor 22 creates proper GUIs and transmits them to thecomputers 21 associated with the first and second users 12 and 14,respectively for display. (See block 108). The GUIs for the first andsecond users may be different. The GUI displayed for the first user maydepict the gesture in no translated form, while the GUI for the seconduser depicts the translated gesture.

For example, if the gesture input by the first user is an extended handfor a hand shake, the GUI displayed to the first user will show thefirst avatar with an extended hand. If the second avatar ischaracterized as of Japanese origin or following Japanese culturalnorms, the translated gesture may be a bow. Therefore, the GUIillustrated to the second user will show the first avatar bowing.

As is understood, the second user may reply to the gesture. In thisinstance, the second user would command the second avatar to bow inresponse. This gesture would be transmitted to the first avatar andtranslated by the virtual world system 18 in a similar manner. As such,the GUI presented to the first user would depict the first and secondavatars shaking hands, while the GUI presented to the second user woulddepict the first and second users bowing to each other.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment in which a first user sends a gesturefrom a first avatar directed to a second avatar. In some embodiments,the first user may send a gesture to several avatars. In this instance,the system will repeat the retrieval, translation, and display processes(see blocks 104-108) for each avatar to receive the gesture so thatgesture is properly translated and displayed to the user of each avatarin the correct manner associated with the cultural, ethnic, or othersocial/cultural characteristics of the avatar.

Either alternatively or in addition to sending the gesture to specificavatars, the first user may send the gesture so as to be received by allusers within a given proximity, such as a wave or similar gesture. Withreference to FIGS. 1 and 3, in this embodiment, a first user 12 directsan associated first avatar to communicate a gesture to all secondavatars within a given proximity. The proximity can be a distance or itcan be a multi-dimensional spatial area, such as a sphere, or a room,etc. The gesture and the proximity are received by the server/processor22 of the virtual world system 18. (See block 200). The proximity isprovided to the proximity module 32. The proximity module determines allpotential avatars located within the selected proximity of the firstavatar. (See block 202).

For each second avatar, the server/processor 22 next accessesinformation associated with the second avatar defining any cultural,ethnicity, or other social/cultural characteristics of the avatar. (Seeblock 204). Further, the server/processor 22 provides the gesture andthe information regarding the second avatar to the translation module30. Using the list of various gestures and associated translations 34,the translation module 30 determines an appropriate translation gestureto be sent to the second avatar based on the gesture received from thefirst user and the information regarding the second avatar. (See block206).

The server/processor 22 creates proper GUIs and transmits them to thecomputers 21 associated with the users associated with the secondavatars. The server/processor 22 also creates and transmits a GUI fordisplay at the first user. (See block 208). The GUIs for each of theusers may be different. The GUI displayed for the first user may depictthe gesture in no translated form, while each of the GUIs for the secondusers depict the translated gesture in accordance with the translationmade for each of their respective avatars.

As mentioned previously, more than one translation may be provided for agiven input gesture. Different translations may be used based on thesocial setting, such as formal or informal, or the particular avatarsending the gesture. For example, a gesture may be translateddifferently based on the social setting. It may also be translateddifferently depending on who is sending the gesture. For example, onemight expect to receive a more informal gesture from a friend than froma business colleague. As such, for some embodiments, the invention maytranslate the gesture based on either one or both the environment inwhich the gesture was made or the particular avatar making the gesture.

For example, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, in this embodiment, afirst user 12 directs an associated first avatar to communicate agesture to a second avatar within the context of a given environment,such as formal or informal. The gesture and the environment are receivedby the server/processor 22 of the virtual world system 18. (See blocks300, 302, and 304). The server/processor 22 accesses informationassociated with the second avatar defining any cultural, ethnicity, orother social/cultural characteristics of the avatar. (See block 306).Further, the server/processor 22 provides the gesture and theinformation regarding the second avatar to the translation module 30,along with the environment indication. Using the list of variousgestures and associated translations 34, the translation module 30determines an appropriate translation gesture to be sent to the secondavatar based on the gesture received from the first user, theinformation regarding the second avatar, and the environment. (See block308).

The server/processor 22 creates proper GUIs and transmits them to thecomputers 21 associated with the users associated with the secondavatars. The server/processor 22 also creates and transmits a GUI fordisplay to the first user. (See block 310). The GUIs for each of theusers may be different. The GUI displayed for the first user may depictthe gesture in no translated form, while each of the GUIs for the secondusers depict the translated gesture in accordance with the translationmade for each of their respective avatars.

A similar process would be used to tailor the translation based on theindividual/avatar sending the gesture. In this embodiment, using thelist of various gestures and associated translations 34, the translationmodule 30 determines an appropriate translation gesture to be sent tothe second avatar based on the gesture received from the first user, theinformation regarding the second avatar, and the information regardingthe first avatar that sent the gesture.

As mentioned previously, in some embodiments, the gestures andassociated translations are in a general database that is common to allavatars. In other embodiments, the gestures and translations may bestored for each user and each user avatar. In these embodiments, thegestures and translations may be customized for each avatar, such that auser may define how a gesture received by the avatar is to be translatedprior to display to the user. Where individualized translation gesturesare used, the invention would access these translation files, as opposedto a general database of translations to determine what translatedgesture to display.

The first user could use the translation of gestures to translatedifferent gestures he/she transmits without requiring the first user tomake such differentiations. In some embodiments, the first user may havea customized set of translations that are used to translate commandgestures send by the first user to others.

The above embodiments discuss translation of gestures in general. Agesture is meant to be any visual, textual or oral communication orgesture in a virtual world that an avatar may perform or which may beperformed for an avatar. Aspects of the invention may not only be usedto translate physical gestures, but also speech or text to differentlanguages. Specifically, by adding a language translation module speechand/or text may be translated.

In the above embodiments, the various modules are described as softwarethat is implemented by the server/processor to perform the variousfunctions described above. In this instance, the various modulescomprise computer code instructions for performing the varioustranslation and display steps discussed above. It is understood,however, that various modules may also be a self contained systems withembedded logic, decision making, state based operations and otherfunctions that may operate in conjunction with a virtual worldsimulation, such as Second Life.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems which perform the specified functions or acts, or combinationsof special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that anyarrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may besubstituted for the specific embodiments shown and that the inventionhas other applications in other environments. This application isintended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention. Thefollowing claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of theinvention to the specific embodiments described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for translating gestures in a virtualworld, comprising: receiving an input gesture to be made by a firstavatar directed to a second avatar in the virtual world; displaying theinput gesture on a first display; translating, using a processor, theinput gesture based at least in part on one or more environmental,cultural or social factors to generate at least one translated gesturefor display; and displaying the at least one translated gesture on asecond display separate from the first display, wherein the at least onetranslated gesture is different than the input gesture.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein displaying the input gesture on a first displaycomprises outputting on the first display a depiction of the inputgesture as being made by the first avatar to the second avatar.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein displaying the translated gesture on a seconddisplay comprises further comprising outputting on the second displayfor display the translated gesture as being made by the first avatar tothe second avatar.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein translating theinput to generate at least one translated gesture comprises translatingthe input gesture based on at least one translation gesture associatedwith the first avatar.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein translating theinput gesture to generate at least one translated gesture comprisestranslating the input gesture based on at least one translation gestureassociated with the second avatar.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereintranslating the input gesture to generate at least one translatedgesture comprises translating the input gesture based on a defaultgesture.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein translating the input gestureto generate at least one translated gesture comprises translating theinput gesture based on a virtual environment in which either the firstand/or second avatar may be located.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereintranslating the input gesture to generate at least one translatedgesture comprises translating the input gesture based on a set oftranslation gestures defined for use when communicating with the secondavatar.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein translating the input gestureto generate at least one translated gesture comprises translating theinput gesture based on a set of translation gestures associated with thefirst avatar.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein translating the inputgesture to generate at least one translated gesture comprisestranslating the input gesture based on a set of translation gesturesassociated with the second avatar.
 11. A method for translating gesturesin a virtual world, comprising: receiving an input from a first userrepresenting an input gesture to be made by a first avatar to a secondavatar in the virtual world; translating, using a processor, the inputgesture input, by the first user, based at least in part on one or moreenvironmental, cultural or social factors to generate at least onetranslated gesture; outputting on a first display a depiction of thegesture input by the first user as being made by the first avatar to thesecond avatar; and outputting on a second display the translated gestureas being made by the first avatar to the second avatar, wherein thefirst display is separate from the second display.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein translating the input gesture input by the first userto generate at least one translated gesture comprises translating theinput gesture based on at least one translation gesture associated withthe first avatar.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein translating theinput gesture input by the first user to generate at least onetranslated gesture comprises translating the input gesture based on atleast one translation gesture associated with the second avatar.
 14. Themethod of claim 11, wherein translating the input gesture input by thefirst user to generate at least one translated gesture comprisestranslating the input gesture based on a default gesture.
 15. The methodof claim 11, wherein translating the input gesture input by the firstuser to generate at least one translated gesture comprises translatingthe input gesture based on a virtual environment in which either thefirst and/or second avatar may be located.
 16. A computer programproduct for translating gestures in a virtual world, comprising: acomputer readable medium having computer readable program code embodiedtherein, the computer readable medium comprising: computer readableprogram code configured to receive an input gesture to be made by afirst avatar directed to a second avatar in the virtual world; computerreadable program code configured to display the input gesture on a firstdisplay; computer readable program code configured to translate theinput gesture based at least in part on one or more environmental,cultural or social factors to generate at least one translated gesturefor display; and computer readable program code configured to displaythe at least one translated gesture on a second display separate fromthe first display, wherein the at least one translated gesture isdifferent than the input gesture.
 17. The computer program product ofclaim 16, wherein the computer readable program code configured todisplay the input gesture on a first display comprises computer readableprogram code configured to output to the first a depiction of the inputgesture as being made by the first avatar to the second avatar.
 18. Thecomputer program product of claim 16, wherein computer readable programcode configured to display the at least one translated gesture on asecond display comprises computer readable program code configured tooutput on the second display the translated gesture as being made by thefirst avatar to the second avatar.
 19. The computer program product ofclaim 16, wherein said computer readable program code configured totranslate the input gesture to generate at least one translated gesturefor display comprises translating the input gesture based on at leastone translation gesture associated with the first avatar.
 20. Thecomputer program product of claim 16, wherein said computer readableprogram code configured to translate the input gesture to generate atleast one translated gesture for display comprises translating the inputgesture based on at least one translation gesture associated with thesecond avatar.
 21. An apparatus for translating gestures in a virtualworld, comprising: a processor capable of: receiving an input gesture tobe made by a first avatar directed to a second avatar in the virtualworld; displaying the input gesture on a first display; translating theinput gesture based at least in part on one or more environmental,cultural or social factors to generate at least one translated gesturefor display; and displaying the at least one translated gesture on asecond display separate from the first display, wherein the at least onetranslated gesture is different than the input gesture.